Missile Command players...

joemagiera

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What's the fewest shots you've ever taken to complete the first screen?

My best is 3 shots. While I've done 3 shots several times over the years, I would say it's pretty uncommon to be able to do that.

Never done it in 2 shots or heard or seen anyone that has. One time on a 3 shot game, I was just a hair off on one shot and that game could have been a 2 shot game, but alas I missed and had to shoot a 3rd shot to get the last lightening bolt.

4 shots I won't say is every day, but is common enough that it's not that big a deal.

5-6 shots is pretty standard if I'm at all trying & concentrating.

If I'm just goofing around or showing someone how to play the game or just trying to get to the higher levels quickly, I'll use a whole bunch.

So how about you? Ever seen or heard of someone doing it in 2 shots?

And don't even try to tell me someone did it in 1. No way I'd ever believe that unless I saw it in person. I wouldn't even believe it if I saw it on a movie, I'd say it was doctored.
 
Another question about MC: Which trackball setting do people use?

I've got a cabaret, and I'm using the setting for the "smaller" trak-ball (I think). But, when I got the game, I believe it was on the other setting.

Does one move the crosshair faster than the other?
 
I'm lucky to have any missiles left at the end of the first level. I usually pull a Rambo and yell while filling the entire screen with missiles.

Seriously though, I think 5 shots is my minimum, but I'm a noob at this game. I haven't really played it since the arcade days when I was young, as it never felt right in MAME without a trackball. My score improves every time I play it though, which is great 'cause it makes it fun. I haven't touched the DIPs since I got it either.. I'll have to check the settings, thanks for the reminder.
 
I never played that game. It doesn't matter. I don't care.
May have heard of it BITD... but again I wouldn't have cared. It really doesn't matter as far as player skill, just luck of the draw as far as how the wave sets up. Either way, I've never been impressed by early round shooting exhibitions.

I always hated when someone messed around/wasted time in the early stages on a 2 player game... Yeah, they would be 600 pts. ahead of me in the third stage, or whatever. Then.. they wait to shoot a line until it gets all the way to the bottom. So cute.
Dick around wasting time on the early stages just to be dead before 100k:p

Shoot, you were one of the guys I was hoping to hear how you did. In general I agree with you and many times I've wished you could just start the game at 6x bonus. Sometimes I'm in the mood to try it, sometimes not. You can only mess around on this (trying for fewest shots) in the very first screen anyways. After that, I'm with you, clear the screen fast and give the other guy his turn.

BTW, that's one feature of 2-player play on Missile Command I really like and is different than most other games. You play one screen and then it's the other guy's turn. You have a very good idea of how long it is between turns. Unlike Pacman or Q*bert or most other games that in 2-player, you don't switch until you lose a life, which could be 5 seconds or could be 5 hours.

Heck in Missile Command, if you trusted the other player, he could play your round for you while you hit the john or something. If you had a few cities built up, it's not like he could end your game even if he wanted to.
 
I point shave on Super Missile Attack so I can make fun of Brian (XXI21) that I'm winning. :D Of course in the end he almost always smokes me, save for the occasional disaster. :( Never really paid attention on M.C. I'll have to try that. I judge my SMA point shaving by score, not number of shots used.
 
I just got a MC and what are some of the trick/cheats? My ball seems to move the cross hair ok. I can get to the 3rd screen but doing a screen in 2 shots? Hints please!
Bill
 
I just got a MC and what are some of the trick/cheats? I can get to the 3rd screen but doing a screen in 2 shots? Hints please!

You can really only do the "fewest shots" thing on the very first screen. After that planes start coming out the sides and dropping misslies and stuff. On the very first screen, to do it on 3 shots involves a lot of luck. When the missiles come out you have to estimate where they will merge and shoot the merge spot with a single shot. On the first screen, 12 missiles are dropped on you (or a single one splits up into multiple), where the total is 12 no matter what. So you need wait and see where they'll split and merge and shoot a single shot to missile merge spots. If you get lucky, the missiles will drop in such a way that many will merge in one spot.
 
It's funny that you ask that - I had a MC board on my bench using a modified mouse as a sub for the trackball and did the 3 shot end of the first round last night and patted myself on the back - guess I will take that pat back. I still like the nuclear explosion and "the end" - one of my favorite game overs. I'm not very good at vids (doesn't stop me from playing) so I have to get my enjoyment somehow - I see a lot of "game overs". I have come to appreciate them. :D

Bill
 
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